title: Therapeutic scrapbooking: a technique to promote positive coping and emotional strength in parents of pediatric oncology patients.
abstract: Therapeutic scrapbooking is an intervention being used with parents and caregivers of children with cancer. The purpose of the group is to promote hopefulness, mobilize internal strengths, and thereby enhance the parents' and caregivers' coping abilities to benefit pediatric oncology patients. Facilitators, licensed in medical social work, provide a safe environment for participants to verbalize their stories and share their distress. Scrapbooking is a "normal" activity without the negative stigma that a "support group" may carry, minimizing the reluctance to attend this supportive group. Outcome measurements indicate this therapeutic intervention achieves positive results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105-3678, USA. paula.mccarthy@stjude.org
authors.forename: Paula G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Jill Genone
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Sebaugh
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004644:Emotions; D005086:Existentialism; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D011939:Mental Recall; D009042:Motivation; D033262:Narration; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011582:Psychological Theory; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012947:Social Work